Some Christians specialize in condemnation, but I am determined to listen to Christ instead. Condemnation never changed anybody!If you are like me, you may have suffered under condemnation long after accepting Christ and surrendering to Him. Living under the weight of condemnation stalled much needed change in my life and kept me from worshiping God. Over the past several years, I have been learning what God's grace really means. I've been learning to live under His grace and let it change me. Before, I was living under the constant sting of condemnation, full of guilt and trying to change myself for the better. I don't know why it was so hard for me to understand that I was living under a burden that had already been lifted, but I have discovered that there are many believers like me.
— Lauren King (@kingencounters) January 30, 2013
In our student ministry, The Underground, we have been confronted by several students who are suffering from the lingering effects of condemnation. They have turned to Jesus; they have a heart to do what is right and to follow Him, but their parents, their friends, or even their own flesh has told them that they can't be free of all that they have done wrong and they will never be able to change. Sadly, some people in the church hold other believers under condemnation instead of lovingly encouraging change in their lives. This is so damaging. We can't make people change by dangling condemnation over their heads.
Accepting God's grace and rejecting condemnation has plunged me into deeper worship of the Savior! When we realize that we are free from condemnation, God's grace becomes so precious to us...it's meaning becomes so clear, and we can't help but worship Him for the gift of His grace. God's gift of grace and our response of worship then initiates the Holy Spirit to activate godly change in our lives.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.Romans 8:1-4; 31-34 NLT
Our God is a God of love and grace. His grace changes us and sets us free...and that is something to rejoice about...something to praise Him for!
I want to share the song that helped to inspire these thoughts today. It is a song about what it truly means to surrender to Christ and be baptized, a song about living under God's changing grace.
Changed
By Rascal Flatts
I too struggle with condemnation - its a real deliberate walk out of it, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great. i can see the change! I can see Gods Grace through you and at work more and more... Ember will benefit so much from the plowing of the tough soil - that you have already done!
I thank God that I got to be your friend and see some of the change up close :)
Lovely song x